7.10.04

A leading loyalist at the centre of a row over his non-arrest was back in court in Belfast today.

Ihab Shoukri, aged 30, from Alliance Road, Belfast, was remanded on continuing bail for two weeks when the prosecution will apply to have him sent for trial on a charge of membership of the UFF.

He had also been charged with murder arising out of last year`s loyalist feud but the charge was later dropped.

Last month the Crown was due to apply to revoke Shoukri`s bail after he was seen by police in Belfast in breach of one of his bail conditions when a High Court judge released him last December.

But the application was withdrawn without explanation and it has since been confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions has asked the PSNI for a report regarding the circumstances of the bail application.